Bryant Just Keeps Losing

Things just keep getting worse for Sen. Wayne Bryant, D-Camden. The feds and the state are investigating him. He had to give up what some think is a no-show or little-show job at UMDNJ. Now, he’s losing his job representing the Gloucester Board of Social Services in court. Not that he was there a lot. The Courier-Post reported earlier that many times junior members of Bryant’s law firm appeared instead of Bryant. But Bryant got $58,700 a year plus that all important pension every public trough-swiller lusts for. No word from Bryant. Since the first subpoenaes were announced, he has scurried from pillar to post like a cockroach in the kitchen when the light goes on.

Comments

About Bob Ingle

Bob Ingle is Senior Political Columnist for Gannett New Jersey newspapers and co-author of The New York Times' Best Seller, "The Soprano State: New Jersey's Culture of Corruption" and "Chris Christie: The Inside Story Of His Rise To Power". He has won numerous journalism awards and is often a news analyst on radio and television. Twitter @ bobingle99.

27 Responses to Bryant Just Keeps Losing

This is not the only job Bryant should lose. He is caught up in a no-show job scandal from the University of Medicine and Dentistry, and he is also under investigation for funneling $1 million dollars into Camden, part of which was used to pay himself for legal expenses, a big no-no. And I would suspect this is just the tip of the iceberg. Hopefully the U.S. Attorneys office in their investigations will uncover more.

Bryant has shown the public that he is not worthy to be a public servant anymore.

Mr. Bryant is, in my opinion, the epitome of corruption in our political system and needs to either be removed, resign, or imprisoned…whichever comes first.

My preferred choice of course would be prison.

Unfortunately, the politicians will of course try to protect their own. And in some cases, it’s now nice to see how his own party is starting to segregate themselves from him in order to not get caught up in his mess.

I hope the investigations yield fruit very soon against Bryant because he needs to go. His time is now, and we the people are looking forward to hopefully having a state senator replace him that has a modicum of ethics.

But those who say Bryant is a force in South Jersey, they are right. He was able to force a no show job at UMDNJ in exchange for millions of state dollars funneled to UMDNJ, according to the current investigation.

It time for you to go Mr. Bryant. We the people have had enough of the corruption that has plagued our state, and you are right at the top of the list of that corruption…in my opinion.

You are a disgrace to the people of this great state, and I cannot fathom how you can live with yourself knowing that you hurt your constituents rather than helped them.

Any good you have done is now irrelevant and overshadowed by the conspiracies that surround you.

And today, in New Jersey, we need to focus on reforms for the great people of this state. But instead, we have to focus on your corruption.

If we could get rid of corrupt figures like you, I am certain the taxpayers would see an immediate savings.

And if and when you are prosecuted, it is my sincerest hope that a part of that decision will be full restitution of all illegal moneys you took including penalties and interest, a complete loss of all state earned benefits, and of course, prison time.

That would make for a very Merry Christmas to many New Jerseyans and myself

“It time for you to go Mr. Bryant. We the people have had enough of the corruption that has plagued our state, and you are right at the top of the list of that corruption…in my opinion.”……the election of Bob Menendez proves you wrong

ITEM: then-Gov Florio’s former chief of staff, Joe Salema, kept his financial interest in a bonding company that made money through direct government acts by Florio’s approving tax-exempt bonds for garbage incinerators. Florio approved the project (even though as an environmental friendly candidate Florio promised that he would not forward the project). Apparently, the incinerator project went belly-up. Predictably taxpayers had to bail out the Camden boys.

Federal authorities probing potential conflicts between state Sen. Wayne Bryant’s personal jobs and his public actions as a chief architect of New Jersey’s recent state budgets have subpoenaed Cherry Hill Township for three years of legal billing records by the senator’s law firm.

The subpoena, delivered to Cherry Hill Tuesday, is the latest in a wide-ranging federal investigation of Bryant (D-Camden) sparked by a report in September that found the senator had arranged himself a no-work job at the University of Medicine and Dentistry at the same time he steered millions in state funds to the school.

“The township is compiling the information and will comply with the records request promptly,” Cherry Hill Solicitor Lisa Kmiec said in a statement. Bryant’s law partner, Allen Zeller, has been the attorney for the Cherry Hill Planning Board for 15 years.

State records show that since 2005, when Bryant became chairman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, Cherry Hill has been awarded almost $3.5 million in special grants added to the state budget during secret negotiations among Bryant and other top Democratic lawmakers.

Lawnside has been awarded $2.25 million in special legislative grants during Bryant’s Budget Committee chairmanship, state records show. The grants have included $300,000 for a fire truck, $800,000 for improvements to a local school’s air conditioning and $1 million for upgrades to a local community center, the Wayne R. Bryant Community Center.

You stated, ”Things just keep getting worse for republicans! In Monmouth County. And ALL ACROSS AMERICA! The feds and the states are investigating! But bob ingle only wants to talk about Democrats! LOL!!”

Yes, although corruption includes both parties, and yes, Monmouth county and some other Republicans are just as bad, the decision makers…the one’s who do have control of our senate and assembly are the Democrats…right now.

Did you ever hear the saying, “no use crying over spilled milk?” Well, I am not interested in Whitman or past Republican administrations and there mistakes right now. They are not in control NOW. Yes, they where horrible and raked New Jerseyans over the coals, but that is done, and there is nothing we can do about them now.

Bitching about the past errors of crooked politicians that are not in office and have no power now to affect change New Jerseyans are seeking is a waste of good Blog space.

We need to deal with the likes now of Corzine, Cody. Roberts, Menendez, Adler, Greenwald, Norcross III, Bryant, Sharpe James, and more…all Democrats, and ALL taking our hard earned tax dollars hand over fist, and some even under criminal investigation.

Now if any R’s are involved in something, sure, we should address that too, and in Bob’s defense, when a Republican issue or scandal does come up, he does address it.

But right now, the D’s are in control over most issues, have all of the power, and they are using it to enrich themselves at our expense.

So you go right ahead Bob and keep uncovering the corruption that is perpetuated by those in power…Democrat or Republican alike. But it’s not worth rehashing the past, we need to live in the present and fix today’s woes. And if there are some R’s in that mix, I know Bob will address them too.

RE: Anonymous said

Plato, why did you copy an article that originally appeared in The Star Ledger and post it here on a web site owned by The Asbury Park Press? Have you no respect for the intellectual property rights of others? Does the term “copyright infringement” mean anything to you?

Let me help Platowasright out for a second.

While in this specific instance, Platowasright referred to an article in the Star Ledger, he ALWAYS (and I am not sure why he didn’t comment in this piece), comments on the article he posts, and ALWAYS names the source and location for that source. So why technically yes, in this instance, one can say he may have crossed that line, there is something called FAIR USE, which basically states he can quote any article as long as he is commenting on its content, and quotes his sources.

In short, you may use material “as is” for parody, commentary, news reporting, and more, as long as you quote the source, and are commenting on the piece. In other words, you cannot copy an article to say just put it on another web site, but you can copy an article to make comments on such article, as it is your reference, as long as you quote your source and comment on it, and do not profit from such.

So my advice to you Platowasright is add a comment on the blog when you quote an article, quote your source,(which you always do) and there you have it…Fair use!

Platowasright is probably one of the smartest persons on this blog. His facts and comments are always right on, insightful, well researched, and bring much needed information to this Blog, and I personally thank him for that.

“So my advice to you Platowasright is add a comment on the blog when you quote an article, quote your source,(which you always do) and there you have it…Fair use!” — Michael Latigona (AKA One New Jersey)

And where, Mr. Latigona, did you attend law school? Are you aware that giving advice and counsel on matters of law when not otherwise licensed to do just that is a crime?

So what you are really saying is that for example, I can’t tell you that if you speed, the law says that’s a violation, so you shouldn’t do it.

Or I cannot say, the law says you must pay taxes, or the law says you must register your vehicle, and more.

That’s just ludicrous.

And second, I NEVER neither professed to be a lawyer nor collected moneys for such.

Friendly advice is just that. And that’s given freely everyday to many people.

Definition of Coercion:

co·erced; co·erc·ingEtymology: Middle English cohercen, from Anglo-French *cohercer Latin coercEre, from co- + arcEre to shut up, enclose — more at ARK1 : to restrain or dominate by force :religion in the past has tried to coerce the irreligious — W. R. Inge:2 : to compel to an act or choice :was coerced into agreeing:3 : to achieve by force or threat ;coerce compliance;Oh, and that statute you are claiming is a NEW YORK law you must have pulled up on Yahoo, and next, if you notice clearly,

§ 135.60 Coercion in the second degree. A person is guilty of coercion in the second degree when he compels or induces a person to engage in conduct which the latter has a legal right to abstain from engaging in, or to abstain from engaging in conduct in which he has a legal right to engage, by means of instilling in him a fear that, if the demand is not complied with, the actor or another will: 1. Cause physical injury to a person; or 2. Cause damage to property; or 3. Engage in other conduct constituting a crime; or 4. Accuse some person of a crime or cause criminal charges to be instituted against him; or 5. Expose a secret or publicize an asserted fact, whether true or false, tending to subject some person to hatred, contempt or ridicule; or 6. Cause a strike, boycott or other collective labor group action injurious to some person’s business; except that such a threat shall not be deemed coercive when the act or omission compelled is for the benefit of the group in whose interest the actor purports to act; or 7. Testify or provide information or withhold testimony or information with respect to another’s legal claim or defense; or 8. Use or abuse his position as a public servant by performing some act within or related to his official duties, or by failing or refusing to perform an official duty, in such manner as to affect some person adversely; or 9. Perform any other act which would not in itself materially benefit the actor but which is calculated to harm another person materially with respect to his health, safety, business, calling, career, financial condition, reputation or personal relationships. Coercion in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor.

(And I do not need to comment on that info because it is common law available to anyone.)

You should really know what you are quoting because you are giving out such bad advice. In fact, aren’t you telling me that I am violating the law…well…legal advice according to you?

If anyone is giving bad advice here, it’s you. Should we sue you? File a complaint? ______________________________________NJ Law states:

2C:13-5. Criminal coercion a. Offense defined. A person is guilty of criminal coercion if, with purpose unlawfully to restrict another’s freedom of action to engage or refrain from engaging in conduct, he threatens to:

(1) Inflict bodily injury on anyone or commit any other offense;

(2) Accuse anyone of an offense;

(3) Expose any secret which would tend to subject any person to hatred, contempt or ridicule, or to impair his credit or business repute;

(4) Take or withhold action as an official, or cause an official to take or withhold action;

(5) Bring about or continue a strike, boycott or other collective action, except that such a threat shall not be deemed coercive when the restriction compelled is demanded in the course of negotiation for the benefit of the group in whose interest the actor acts;

(6) Testify or provide information or withhold testimony or information with respect to another’s legal claim or defense; or

(7) Perform any other act which would not in itself substantially benefit the actor but which is calculated to substantially harm another person with respect to his health, safety, business, calling, career, financial condition, reputation or personal relationships.

It is an affirmative defense to prosecution based on paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (6) and (7) that the actor believed the accusation or secret to be true or the proposed official action justified and that his purpose was limited to compelling the other to behave in a way reasonably related to the circumstances which were the subject of the accusation, exposure or proposed official action, as by desisting from further misbehavior, making good a wrong done, or refraining from taking any action or responsibility for which the actor believes the other disqualified.

b. Grading Criminal coercion is a crime of the fourth degree unless the threat is to commit a crime more serious than one of the fourth degree or the actor’s purpose is criminal, in which cases the offense is a crime of the third degree.

“Second, the statute you claim is a NEW YORK statute I easily found on Yahoo. Get your facts straight. We live in New Jersey under New Jersey Law.” — Michael Latigona (One New Jersey)

You really are an idiot, aren’t you? And a windbag at that.

As any regular reader of this blog will tell you, Platowasright is often fond of quoting Penal Law 135.60, “Second Degree Coercion of Taxpayers,” as the charge that corrupt New Jersey politicians should be charged with. (Google “Penal Law 135.60, Second Degree Coercion of Taxpayers” and see what comes up.) Despite being told a number of times that the law he is quoting is a New York Statute, Plato continues to reference that particular piece of legislation. I made reference to Penal Law 135.60 myself simply to underscore, in a humorous way, just how little Plato knows about the law.

Incidentally, you can join that club. What you know about “Fair Use,” copyright infringement and intellectual property rights wouldn’t fill a thimble. You, “Governor,” aren’t qualified to advise anyone. This is a commercial web site run by a for-profit corporation. Platowasright took copyrighted material owned by The Star Ledger and placed it here without anyone’s permission. Under you idiotic interpretation of the law, Plato or anyone else would be able to copy the entire edition of today’s Star Ledger and place it on another private, for-profit web site so long as they added a one sentence comment regarding what they just stole. That isn’t anything close to “fair use.”

“While in this specific instance, Platowasright referred to an article in the Star Ledger, he ALWAYS (and I am not sure why he didn’t comment in this piece), comments on the article he posts, and ALWAYS names the source and location for that source. So why technically yes, in this instance, one can say he may have crossed that line”

If you read what I said, I AGREED with you, but rather, you let emotions to take control of your judgment, and are reflected in your posts rather than having meaningful debate. A sure sign of a very immature individual.

As for you stating, “Despite being told a number of times that the law he is quoting is a New York Statute, Plato continues to reference that particular piece of legislation. I made reference to Penal Law 135.60 myself simply to underscore, in a humorous way, just how little Plato knows about the law.”

I have not seen that. But I have only been posting for a short time here. So you may be right there…I don’t know.

Let me say that again, YOU MAY BE RIGHT THERE, BUT I DON’T KNOW. Just so I am clear before you decide to take that out of context like you have everything else.

But then, you should have been clearer. We are not mind readers on this blog. Try using a () to state that is why you said what you said so people don’t get confused and think you are uneducated or quoting from sources that misguide and misrepresent the facts.

As for my “idiotic” interpretation of the law, please look it up yourself and see that I am totally right. Heck, I EVEN GAVE YOU THE LAW ON THIS VERY BLOG…TRY READING IT.

It’s like a college paper. You quote, and state your source. That’s legal, and IS fair use.

Your example, “Plato or anyone else would be able to copy the entire edition of today’s Star Ledger and place it on another private, for-profit web site so long as they added a one sentence comment regarding what they just stole.”

That isn’t anything close to “fair use,” is extreme, and not even close to what I said. Take it down a few notches will you. Try citing examples that make sense.

And with people like yourself, I love to ask, what is your name, and why the anonymity?

Are you afraid of people knowing who you are on this blog?

You find it easy to bash, but do so being the shadow of anonymity.

When I am wrong, I admit it, and people call me on it, and I make corrections, apologies, or do what is needed to correct it.

Your immaturity is evidenced by your comments, and your lack of education is also evidenced by your facts.

And from reading your blog and comparing it with Platowasright…I’d pick him any day of the week. He IS trying. He DOES present the facts very well, and he DOES have meaningful debate even when we don’t agree. But he doesn’t go around stating anyone is a windbag or anything else.

And you certainly DON’T have to vote for me if I ever chose to run for any office again. You are the type of person I don’t want to vote for me.

I don’t pander for votes. I tell it like it is, and if you don’t like it…well…tough luck.

And just to make one more point, I don’t see you out there trying to make change. I NEVER ran for office before, and I know I will blunder…BUT I AM TRYING, and I AM MAKING A DIFFERENCE, AM LEARNING, and people ARE listening. But my blunders are nothing like the mistakes of our current political leaders.

Can you say that?

I thought so.

You see, I don’t have to answer to you. (And this will surely be the last response you get from me) I do this out of respect. But you are clearly not worthy of such respect or debate.

And let me state this. I am not seeking office, and don’t give a rats ass what you think. There are thousands of people who know me, know my positions, and support those very same positions and solutions.

How many are supporting you again? Hmmm…at least one…youself.

I have proven myself, and continue to do so…have you?

So as a citizen, and average Joe, I say to you…get a life, grow up, and get your facts straight. Try reading the blogs first before going off half-cocked, and maybe…just maybe you might learn something.

If our state is in a mess, it’s people like you that contribute to it. You must be the type of person that actually believed Corzine when he said he would cut our taxes.

Michael Latigona(My real name since I am not afraid nor need to hide behind a vale of anonymity)

“We need to deal with the likes now of Corzine, Cody. Roberts, Menendez, Adler, Greenwald, Norcross III, Bryant, Sharpe James, and more…all Democrats, and ALL taking our hard earned tax dollars hand over fist, and some even under criminal investigation”.

OH REALY??

What Charges would you bring Mike? List the crimes of Jon Corzine, just for starters.

And, since you “are not interested in past crimes” Mike, I will make it easy for you. Just list the “CRIMES” he has commited since becoming governor!

After that, we will move on to Cody.

On a side note Mike, I read where you said that “if” you were elected Gov. “you would only do what the people wanted”.. Just out of couriosity Mike, do you think if given the choice, the people would want to pay, oh I don’t know,, say 75% LESS TAXES?? Maybe do away with toll roads? And, have all new schools built? I’m sure you have an answer for this. Let’s hear your plan Mike.

“As for my “idiotic” interpretation of the law, please look it up yourself and see that I am totally right. Heck, I EVEN GAVE YOU THE LAW ON THIS VERY BLOG…TRY READING IT.” — One New Jersey (Michael Latigona)

Your interpretation is idiotic and you haven’t cited any law beyond the coercion statutes that you copied, and which have nothing whatsoever to do with the Fair Use of copyrighted material.

“It’s like a college paper. You quote, and state your source. That’s legal, and IS fair use.” — One New Jersey (Michael Latigona)

No, its not legal and its not fair use. While academics are given greater latitude with respect to the material they can use under Fair Use, Plato wasn’t writing a college term paper when he stole copyrighted material from one for-profit, commercial web site and placed it on another for-profit, commercial web site. There is a four prong test that is employed in determining Fair Use and Plato fails miserably on more than one count.

Case in point: Shortly after leaving office, former President Gerald Ford wrote an autobiography. There were more than 200,000 words in that autobiography. A magazine, The Nation, copied a mere 300 words out of those 200,000+ words and placed what they copied in their for-profit magazine. They did so without the President’s permission. They told their readers precisely who wrote the words they copied. (e.g., They credited their source.) They even added extensive commentary about the words they copied, as well as the rest of the President’s book.

You, Mr. Latigona, would call what The Nation did Fair Use. The United States Supreme Court called it copyright infringement.

Mr. Latigona, you wouldn’t know the law if it fell on you. Don’t presume to lecture me — or anyone else, for that matter — on matters of which you know precious little. Quite frankly, you aren’t qualified to give advice to anyone.

LOL…now I am convinced you work for Corzine. You are way to defensive of him.

You must be hired to monitor this blog and do damage control or something…at least that’s my guess.

And again, there you go off the deep end chopping together words from my blog out of context and making it up as you go along.

Just in one simple example you correctly quote me as saying, “We need to deal with the likes now of Corzine, Cody. Roberts, Menendez, Adler, Greenwald, Norcross III, Bryant, Sharpe James, and more…all Democrats, and ALL taking our hard earned tax dollars hand over fist, and some even under criminal investigation”.

Did I mention anything about criminal activity for all of them? I said SOME are even under criminal investigation.

Again, get it right.

But of course you asked me, “What Charges would you bring Mike? List the crimes of Jon Corzine, just for starters.”

Again, totally out of context and misleading like everything else in your posts.

You must work for Corzine.

You just have no credibility sir. But you did give me good laugh for the day. Thanks for that!

“all Democrats, and **ALL taking our hard earned tax dollars hand over fist**, and some even under criminal investigation.”

“But right now, **the D’s are in control over most issues, have all of the power, and they are using it to enrich themselves** at our expense.”

And then Mikey said,, with the most weasely of words,

“Did I mention anything about criminal activity for all of them”?

LOL!!! Why yes Mikey! Yes you did! You can try to weasel out of it, you can try to spin it, but, your own words are right here for all to see. If you do want to try and weasel out of your own printed words, please try to do it in under 500 words.

About this Blog

Bob Ingle, Senior Political Columnist for Gannett New Jersey newspapers, on politics in "The Soprano State".

The Soprano State (the Movie)

Debuted October 18, 2010

About the Author

Bob IngleBob Ingle is Senior Political Columnist for Gannett New Jersey Newspapers and co-author of The New York Times' Best Seller, "The Soprano State: New Jersey's Culture of Corruption." Hear him Fridays at 5 p.m. on www.tommygshow.com radio. twitter.com/bobingle99 E-mail Bob

Follow Me

Chris Christie biography

"Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power," written by Bob Ingle and Michael Symons, offers the first inside portrait of New Jersey’s governor, who in two years as governor emerged as a national Republican Party figure famous for his blunt public statements. The book details Christie’s combative public persona and deep family roots, tracing his improbable political rise from a bruising stint in county government to his anti-corruption crusade as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power goes behind the scenes to reveal his family life, his public life, and what the future might hold..

Buy the Book:

The Soprano State

"The Soprano State," written by Bob Ingle and Sandy McClure, details the you-couldn't-make-this-up true story of the corruption that has pervaded New Jersey politics, government, and business for the past thirty years. From Jimmy Hoffa purportedly being buried somewhere beneath the end zone in Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands, through allegations of a thoroughly corrupt medical and dental university, through Mafia influence at all levels, to a governor who suddenly declares himself a “gay American” and resigns, the Garden State might indeed be better named after the HBO mobsters.

Oh no, more snow! Here's a quick look at the New Jersey government and politics calendar on this winter-won't-leave-without-a-fight Friday, March 20th, 2016: Gov. Chris Christie heads to Florida this weekend for some political travel. Saturday night, he's in Boca … Continue reading →

On Thursday March 19th, 2015 in New Jersey politics: Hillary Clinton, widely considered the leading candidate for the Democratic nomination for president, is in New Jersey to deliver a paid speech to a conference of the American Camp Association at … Continue reading →

In New Jersey politics on Wednesday, March 18th, 2015 ... Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, who left office after being shot in the head in an attempted assassination in 2011, is at the Statehouse in Trenton for a … Continue reading →

On Tuesday, March 17th, 2015 in New Jersey politics: Gov. Chris Christie holds a town-hall meeting, 3 p.m. at the National Guard Armory in Freehold. Here's a backgrounder on the event. Senate President Stephen Sweeney and other members of the … Continue reading →

On New Jersey's political calendar for Monday, March 16th: Senate voting session, noon at the Statehouse in Trenton. It's the Senate last session before taking its budget break, meaning most of the Senate shifts into low gear until May while … Continue reading →

On Thursday, March 12th, 2015 in New Jersey politics: Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, who is acting governor because Gov. Chris Christie is traveling out of state, addresses the New Jersey Tourism Industry Association conference at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic … Continue reading →

Have a happy Wednesday, March 12th, 2015. Here's a bit of what's going on in New Jersey politics: Gov. Chris Christie is traveling in Florida for Leadership Matters for America purposes. Assembly Budget Committee holds its first of three public … Continue reading →

In New Jersey politics on Tuesday, March 10th, 2015: Gov. Chris Christie holds a town-hall style meeting, 11 a.m. in the school gymnasium at Van Derveer Elementary School in Somerville. In a visit to the same school in 2010, Christie … Continue reading →

On Monday, March 9th, 2015, in New Jersey politics: Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno takes part in the New Jersey kick-off event for the Million Women Mentors effort to increase the interest and confidence of girls and young women in the … Continue reading →